The New Nation - Internet Edition

Country needs huge efficient human resources: President

BSS, Dhaka

President Prof. Dr Iajuddin Ahmed on Sunday underlined the need for huge capable and efficient human resources to explore all avenues of possibilities as Bangladesh has immense potentials.

"We must have to build a knowledge-based society who would make our country prosperous with their knowledge and wisdom," he said this while addressing the 12th convocation ceremony of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center here.

Adviser for Education Hossain Zillur Rahman, IUB Vice Chancellor Prof. Bazlul Mobin Chowdhury, Chairman of Trustees of Education, Science, Technology and Cultural Development Trust (ESTCDT) Towhid Samad and graduating student Obaid Khan spoke on the occasion.

Prof. Charles L Choguill presented the convocation speech.

The president, who is also the chancellor of the universities, said with the emergence of global tougher competitiveness, the verb "Survival of the fittest" appears to us with the magnitude of great importance to be more competent.

In an era of globalization, on the capable and fittest candidates would be able to meet the demand of the time by applying their knowledge and wisdom, he observed saying the importance of quality education is the essence of the time.

The president called upon concerned to ventilate and expand job markets in order to provide the new graduates so that the nation could be more benefited by using their talents and potentials.

Referring to the introduction of private universities in the country, Prof. Iajuddin Ahmed said now a good number of students have been passing out from these universities every year.

" We are keenly observing that the imparting of education being provided by the many private universities could not reach up to the desired level," the chancellor opined.Therefore, he said, time has come to evaluate the standard of education, which is imparted, by the universities particularly private universities.

Congratulating the new graduates, the president said, "you must live up to the expectations of the nation and must strive to improve yourself at every stage of your life."

He called upon all concerned to provide congenial atmosphere of education including efficient teaching staff, state-of- the- art curricula, sufficient library facilities and extra-curriculum activities.

In order to ensure quality education, the president urged all to uphold the sanctity of the educational institution keeping national interest above everything.

Referring to the huge fees at the private universities, Prof.Iajuddin Ahmed said many students of low-income group could not afford expenses of higher education.

He urged the concerned authorities to provide more opportunities for the meritorious but poor students in order to build a happy and prosperous Bangladesh.

Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman said a remarkable change of attitude towards education have come in Bangladesh in the recent years and private-public education is longer a debate here now.

He also put emphasis on acquiring professional excellence and said the private universities like IUB could play an important role in this regard.

While giving advises to the graduating students, the convocation speaker Prof. Charls L. Choguill said, "base your work on solid foundation and don't rush into things without adequate knowledge."

Prof. Bazlul Mobin Chowdhury said they started out of the academic journey of IUB with three academic disciplines and now they offer 29 different disciplines.

Hassan Ariff Off to Mexico

BSS, Dhaka

Law Adviser AF Hassan Ariff left here today for Mexico to join a practitioners workshop on non-conviction based asset recovery (NCBAR) in Cancun, Mexico.

Representatives of 20 countries are to join the three-day workshop beginning on June 17.

The adviser is expected to return home on June 24, said an official press release.

The last workshop on the legal mechanism was held in March this year in Austrian capital of Vienna.

Hong Kong co invests Tk 50 cr in Comilla EPZ

BSS, Dhaka

A Hong Kong company will invest Taka 50 crore to set up a Garments Accessories Manufacturing Industry in Comilla Export Processing Zone.

Brilliant Packaging (BD) Limited, a 100 percent foreign-owned company, will make the investment in setting up the plant to produce woven labels, offset tickets care, printed, integrated labels and tickets.

Besides, the company will also create employment for 260 Bangladeshi nationals.

An agreement to this effect was signed between the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) and the Brilliant Packaging (BD) Limited in BEPZA Complex here on Sunday.

M Farhad Uddin, Member (Engineering) of BEPZA and Chu Oi Fung, Managing Director of Brilliant Packaging (BD) Limited, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations.

BEPZA Executive Chairman Brig General Jamil Ahmed Khan and other officials were present on the occasion.

President, CA urge all to plant fruit bearing trees

BSS, Dhaka

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed on Sunday urged all to plant increased number of fruit bearing as well as timber and medicinal trees during this year's monsoon throughout the country.

In separate messages marking the launching of the fortnight long 'Fruit Bearing Tree Plantation Programme' by the Ministry of Agriculture, they expressed their profound satisfaction over the initiative and said it would greatly help provide nutrition and protect environment from further degradation.

The President in his message said, "it is very important to maintain nutrition status along with achieving food security for the public health. The fruit bearing trees can supply nutrition and are also helpful for nature and our economy," he said.

Professor Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed described this year's theme- 'Swastha, Pushti Ortho Chan, Faler Chara Beshi Lagan(plant more fruit bearing trees to have health, nutrition and money)' as very time befitting.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in his message welcomed the initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture and said balanced food is necessary for a good health.

'We get most of the vitamins and minerals from fruits and vegetables,' he said adding," in view of this, we should plant more and more fruit bearing trees around our homesteads, yards and on open spaces including premises of office, religious place and educational institution."

The Chief Adviser urged all to take concerted efforts for planting increased number of fruit bearing trees and raising crop production leading to food security in the country.

Army initiates massive tree plantation campaign

BSS, Dhaka

Bangladesh army have undertaken a massive programme to make the National Tree Plantation Campaign- 2008 a success an ISPR press release said.

Quarter Master General of Bangladesh Army Lt. General Md.Jahangir Alam Chowdhury formally inaugurated tree plantation campaign of Bangladesh army by planting a palm sapling beside army central mosque on Sunday.

Senior army officers were present on the occasion. Later, he offered munajat along with other officers seeking success of the campaign.

This year the Bangladesh army have chalked out a massive programme of planting saplings in army establishments throughout the country.

In addition, as part of government initiative of making the capital a green city Bangladesh Army has undertaken special tree plantation drive in the city's military outfits, which includes plantation of 21,000 saplings of fruit, timber and medicinal species.

Bangladesh Army, one of the pioneers in National Tree Plantation Campaign, have been planting, nursing and conserving the saplings successfully.

Greenery environment created by the numberous trees in cantonments across the country including Dhaka cantonment has been appreciated by the citizens as well as ecologists Bangladesh army have received national awards in previous years as the recognition to its contribution in enhancing forest resources of the country.

Plan for ensuring participation of women in politics emphasised

BSS, Dhaka

Speakers at a conference here on Sunday underlined the need for formulating specific plan to ensure the participation of women in politics as their representation in the country's legislature is only five percent.

South Asia Partnership (SAP)- Bangladesh, organized the conference titled 'Women's Political Participation and Violence' at the Jatiya Press Club here.

Chairperson of Community Development Library (CDL) Mohiuddin Ahmed presented the keynote paper while executive director of SAP Syed Nurul Alam gave the welcome speech.

President of Bangladesh Network of Women Lawyer Association Advocate Fawzia Karim Firoz and Secretary of Odhikar Adilur Rahman Khan also spoke on the occasion.

In his keynote paper, Mohiuddin said violence against women is one of the major factors that restrict women to participate in politics.

An analysis of the major national political parties shows that share of women in the highest level of political leadership is very low, he said, adding women comprise only 15 percent of both Awami League and BNP's national executive committees."

Fawzia called for formulating effective policy and specific long-term plan to ensure participation of more women in politics and policymaking.

She urged the bankers to provide loans to the self-reliant women entrepreneurs without the signatures of their husbands to make themselves confident and empowered.

Price of essentials cheaper at BDR markets

BSS, Dhaka

Prices of essentials were cheaper in BDR-run sale centres and markets compared to those in the city's ordinary markets on Saturday, said a BDR market survey released here yesterday.

Flour in packet was sold between Taka 39 and 42 per kg in the ordinary markets, it said adding, the item was sold at Taka 42 at BDR-run open markets and Taka 35 at BDR-run sale centres. The price of one-kg flour in Kolkata is equivalent to Taka 21.66.

Coarse rice was sold at Taka 31 to Taka 32 per kg in different markets in the city. Rice was sold at Taka 32.50 at BDR-run open markets and Taka 30 at BDR-run sale centres while the item is being sold at Taka 20.00 in Kolkata markets.

Lentil (imported) was sold in different city markets at Taka 80 to Taka 88 per kg which is Taka 74-80 at BDR-run sale centres and Taka 82 at BDR-run open markets while lentil is being sold at Taka 86.66 in Kolkata markets.

Onion (imported) was sold in different city markets ranged between Taka 14 and 17. The item is available in Kolkata at Taka 7.50.

Potato was sold in different city markets at Taka 17 to Taka 18 per kg, while it was Taka 17 at BDR-run open markets and Taka 10 at BDR-run sale centres. In Kolkata, the price of the item is Taka 9.16.

Sugar is being sold at Taka 32 to 38 per kg in different city markets against Taka 33 at BDR-run open markets. In Kolkata, its price stands at Taka 25.00.

Salt was sold at Taka 12 and Taka 13 per kg in different city markets, while it was sold at Taka 9 to 10 per kg at BDR-run sale centers. The item is available in Kolkata at Taka 10.40,the report said.

Soybean oil was sold between Taka 110 and Taka 114 per liter in the ordinary markets, while it is available at Taka 109 at BDR-run open markets. In Kolkata, the price of soybean oil is Taka 110.00 per liter.

Palm oil was sold at Taka 100 to Taka 103 per liter in the ordinary markets, compared to Taka 101 per liter at BDR-run open markets and Taka 98 at BDR run sale centres. In Kolkata, the price of palm oil is Taka 100.00 per liter.

Besides, Hilsa fish was sold in different markets at Taka 285 to Taka 320 per kg yesterday, the release added.

More budgetary allocation for children demanded

BSS, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed on Sunday asked the members of Special Security Force (SSF) to remain vigilant so that public life is not hampered by their activities while ensuring smooth and flawless security.

"You will take necessary steps and remain vigilant so that general masses are not harassed and suffered unnecessarily and security system of a head of state or government does not create any obstacle," he said.

The Chief Adviser said this while addressing a "Darbar" marking the 22nd founding anniversary of the elite force at Chief Adviser's Office (CAO) here.

Director General of SSF Maj. Gen. Ashraf Abdullah Yusuf spoke on the occasion.

The Chief Adviser said, in the present day world, security has been considering as a comprehensive and multi-dimensional issue which is becoming more challenging and risky day by day.

He said ensuring security to the head of the state and government is a tough job on the context of existing national and international security levels.

Stressing the need for acquiring knowledge and professional excellence, Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed told the SSF members that the government is remained active to increase professional excellence and affectivity of the forces keeping in the mind the changing global scenario.

In this context, he assured them to provide all sorts of government assistance for improving quality of the forces through imparting training and modern equipment relating to ensuring flawless security of the VVIPs.

The Chief Adviser said it is important to bring about positive changes in SSF's activities in the wake of internal changing situation of the country.

"You have to put emphasis on the public relation matters of the head of state or government along with ensuring security for them," he added.

The Chief Adviser asked the SSF members to work keeping in mind how flawless security could be ensured along with maintaining public involvement.

Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed also asked the members of the elite force to discharge their duties through proper coordination with the officers and staffs of other departments involved in security affairs.

"For this, each member of the SSF has to be talented, creative, tactical, firmly committed and dutiful as well as decent and polite," he said.

Lauding the activities of SSF, he said that the force has set up a bright example so far in terms of providing flawless security for the heads of state and government from home and abroad as well as the VVIPs after the very inception of the SSF.

The members of SSF had been able to earn confidence by showing practical reflection of firmness of their character, honesty, dedication and professional excellence.

The Chief Adviser expressed the hope that the professional excellence and working skills of the each SSF member would be further expedited, strengthened and accelerated in future.

The Presidential Security Force (PSF) Ordinance was promulgated on June 15, 1986 . At the onset, the PSF started its journey with few selected officers from the armed forces and police with lot of limitations.

To overcome the limitations, threat dimensions and to keep pace with the technological advancement in 1991, PSF was renamed as Special Security Force (SSF) and the organization came under the direct control of Chief Executive of the government.